Kudos to Jon Stewart for following up.
The host of “The Daily Show” recently invited Richard Beeman, a constitutional scholar and history professor at the University of Pennsylvania, to respond to claims by phony historian David Barton made on the same show earlier this month.
To his credit, Stewart begins the Beeman interview by admitting he felt a little bit beaten up by Barton, who at times talked circles around Stewart. Hey, Barton may not always tell the truth, but like all good propagandists, he’s good with words. He’s still not a historian, though.
Regardless of how you feel about Barton, pretend for a few moments that he doesn’t exist. Because Barton aside, the interview with Beeman is a fascinating conversation about constitutional history, what the Constitution actually says, and what our nation’s founders actually intended with respect to religion.
Enjoy.
Richard Beeman on “The Daily Show,” part 1.
Richard Beeman on “The Daily Show,” part 2.
(H/T: Ed Brayton)
